Label folding method and means



J n 1934- G. A. PIEPENBRING LABEL FOLDING METHOD AND MEANS Filed Sept.26, 1931 INVENTOR. Guam 0Q fiz avmwe m A TTORNEY Patented June 12, 1934UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE LABEL FOLDING METHOD AND MEANS ApplicationSeptember 26, 1931, Serial No. 565,244 21 Claims. (01. 270-61) Myinvention relates to improvements in methods of folding labels atopposite margins thereof and to improved means for carrying out saidmethods, having for an object to insure square folds such that thefolded margins will be parallel.

The invention is particularly adapted for fold ing machines in whichthere is a relative movement of a label with respect to the folders andin a direction lengthwise of the margins to be folded. Such a machine,for example is that invented jointly by Werner Beutel and myself anddisclosed in a copending application Serial No. 469,016, filed July 19,1930. In said machine the labels are cut from a continuous strip and thecut-off portions are seized by a pair of jaws with the cut marginsprojecting from opposite sides of the jaws. The jaws are then advancedto carry the projecting margins through a pair of folders similar to thehemming folders used on sewing machines and thence into a pair of heatedpresses so that the margins are first folded and then ironed.

Occasionally difficulty is experienced in folding light and flimsymaterial. When the cut margins are drawn through the folders there is adragging action on the material which tends to crumple the material ordistort it swinging the margins inward or in a direction away from thefolders so that the folds are usually deeper at the i forward edge ofthe label than at the rear edge.

While this tendency to distortion is negligible with heavy or stiffmaterial it is very prevalent with flimsy or li ht material producinglabels which, as they come from the machine, are not rectangular buttake the form of a trapezium.

Sometimes distorted folding results from uneven tension in the weave. Ifthe warp threads on one side are under greater tension than those on theother the label assumes a curved form and the folded margins will tendto be substantially radial to the curvature.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the difficultiesabove named by forcing an increased amount of material into the folderson the side which is or tends to become longer, or, conversely, toreduce the amount of material introduced into the folders on the sidewhich is or tends to become shorter during the folding operation.

More specifically my invention provides means With these objects in Viewand others which will appear hereinafter, I shall now describe apreferred embodiment of my invention and thereafter the novelty andscope of the invention will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing;

Figure l is a view in side elevation and partly in section of a portionof a label cutting and folding machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view on an enlarged scale of a portion of Fig. 1, andrepresents a longitudinal section taken through the clamping jaws of themachine;

Fig. 3 is a view in section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 and showingone of the folders in end elevation with a margin of a label passingtherethrough;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the lower clamping jaw;

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of a label showing how it is crimpedwhile being passed through the folders;

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of the same label after the folds havebeen ironed and the label has been flattened out;

Fig. 7 is a view in transverse section through the clamping jaws of amodified form of the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a label showing the manner in which it iscrimped by the jaws shown in Fig. 7.

The label cutting and folding machine which is shown fragmentally inFig. 1 is substantially the same as that disclosed in said copendingapplication except for the construction of the clamping jaws. Themachine comprises a main frame 10 provided with horizontal ways 11 inwhich a carriage 12 is adapted to slide. The carriage is reciprocated byrod 13 which is connected to a cam operated lever (not shown)..

The carriage 12 has fixed thereto a lower clamping arm 14. An upperclamping arm 15 is pivoted to the carriage on a stud 16. A slottedrearward extension 17 of the arm 15 engages a pin 18 projecting from avertical slide bar 19. This barv is arranged to slide in ways 20provided on the carriage 12. Thus by movement of the bar 19 up and downthe arm 15 may be oscillated toward and from the arm 14. To efiectvertical movement of the bar 19 the latter is provided with a roller 21which engages a horizontal slot 22 formed in a member 23, the latterbeing mounted to slide vertically on ways 24 fixed to the main frame 10.The member 23 is also provided with a slot 25 engaged by a roller 26 onone arm of a cam lever 27 which is pivoted at 28 to a pedestal 29forming part of the main frame 10. The lever 27 is oscillated to raiseand lower the member 23, in timed relation to the movement of thecarriage 12, by suitable cam mechanism (not shown).

The label strip is fed between the arms 14 and 15 when they are in openposition, and it enters in a direction at right angles to the movementof the carriage 12. When a suiiicient length of label has been fedbetween the arms it is cut off by a knife indicated by broken lines at30. The arm 15 then is swung downward so that the label is firmlygripped between clamping jaws provided on the arms 14 and 15. The labelis then carried toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1, by operation ofthe rod 13. In its course, the cut ends of the label which project fromopposite sides of the jaws are fed through a. pair of folders 32 andthence on to a pair of presses 33. Only one of the folders and pressesis shown in Fig. 1, but it will be understood that the same mechanism isduplicated on the opposite end of the label. The folder comprises aspirally grooved member 34 supported on a post 35 carried by the mainframe 10. The groove is widely flared at the mouth and at the exit endmerges into a constricted horizontal groove defined by upper and lowerspring fingers 34a. Thus as a label end enters the groove it is curledover thereby and then flattened into a fold between the fingers 34a. Afiat guide 36 upwardly bent at its rear end fits into the groove andserves to define the edge of the fold. This guide is resilientlysupported by curved spring bracket 37.

The folders lie immediately adjacent the presses 33 so that as thefolded ends of the label pass out of the folders they immediately enterthe presses. 38 and a vertically reciprocable ironing member 39. Thelatter is springpressed downward but is raised by a crank arm 40 toreceivethe folded end of the label. The arm 40 engages a. pin 41 carriedby the member 39 and is operated by suitable mechanism not shown. Assoon as the label enters the press the arm 40 is lowered and the member39 comes down upon the folded margin of the label. Suitable means areprovided for heating the member 39 so that the fold will be ironed.

As soon as the arms 14 and 15 have delivered the label to the pressesthe arm 15 is raised and the carriage 12 is withdrawn to bring theclamping jaws into position to receive the next label. When the nextlabel is advanced into the presses,

the previous label is pushed out of the presses by the jaws, as will bedescribed more fully hereinafter, and the ejected label is thus fedbetween a pair of rollers 42 and 43 which discharge it from the machine,or deposit it in a suitable receptacle not shown.

The mechanism so far described corresponds substantially to thatdisclosed in said copending application. The novelty of the presentinvention lies particularly in the form of the clamping Jaws.

Referring first to the lower jaw it will be observed that the latter isformed with a laterally extending plate 45 which is attached to the arm14 by an angle bracket 46. The plate 45 is a formed with a central rib4'7 projecting from its into a groove 48a of slightly greater width andEach press comprises a fixed anvil much greater length than the slot.Each groove 48a extends to the forward edge of the plate 45 for apurpose that will be explained hereinafter. On the upper face of theplate along opposite side edges, but stepped back from the front edge ofthe plate, are twotoothed ribs 49. The rear end 50 of the plate 45 isbent downwardly and terminates near the point where the arm 14 attachesto the carriage 12.

The upper arm 15 is provided with a plate which corresponds in generalform to the plate 45 and is attached to the arm 15 by an angle bracket55. The plate 55 is provided on its under face with a central rib 5'?which is adapted to register with the rib 47. At opposite sides of therib 5'7 are slots 53 which pass through the plate 55 and the anglebracket 56 and these slots are aligned with the slots 48 in the lowerjaw. Along opposite margins of the plate 55 are toothed ribs 59 whichare adapted to register with the ribs 49 of the lower jaw. The rear endof the plate 55 is in the form of an upwardly bent extension 60. Thepurpose of these extensions 50 and 60 will be explained presently.

As shown in Fig. 4, the rib 47 extends from the forward margin of theplate 45 to a point near the middle of the slots 48, while the ribs 49begin at their forward ends at a point beyond the middle of the slots 48and extend well to the rear of said slots. ginal toothed ribs of theupper jaw is substantially the same. The purpose of these ribs is toprovide a three point engagement of the label. A label in grippedposition is indicated by broken lines in 4. It will. be observed thatthe label is centrally gripped between the ribs 57 and 4'? at itsforward edge, and is engaged by the toothed ribs 59 and 43 at its rearedge and near its out ends.

Mounted on the bracket 56 and symmetrically disposed with respect to theslots 58 is a block 62. Supported on this block is a U-shaped die 63,the legs of which project through the slots 58 and also (when the jawsare closed) into the slots 48. The lower ends of these legs are cut on aslant as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that when the jaws are closed onlythe forward part of the legs will. project into the slots 48. The member63 is arranged to be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly on the jaw 15 andto this end it is formed with a slot 64 through which passes a screw 65that fastens it to the block 62.

In use when the jaws are closed a label gripped therebetween will bepressed into the lower slots 48 by the legs of the member 63, therebycrim.p ing the forward edge of the label as shown in Fig. 5. The extentto which the label is crimp-ed may be regulated by adjusting theposition of the mei ber 63. Thus, if said member is moved rearwardly thecrimping will be deepened whereas if it is moved forwardly the crimpingwill be more shallow. Obviously if the slots in the jaws and theadjusting slot 64 were long enough the die could be moved forward so faras not to crimp the edge of the label at all. When the label is beingerimped, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it is gripped centrally at itsforward edge, between the die legs so that the forward portion of thelabel is free to assume the crimped form. At the same time the rearportion of the label is held taut by the The arrangement of the centraland mar- Lin;

toothed ribs 49 and 59. As a result, while the label Thus when the labelis advanced between the folders there will be less material pushed intothe folder at the leading edge of the label than at the trailing edge,and the dragging action which tends to produce a narrower fold at thetrailing edge is offset. A substantially square fold results, i. e., afold of substantially uniform width throughout its length, so that whenthe label is flattened out, as shown in Fig. 6, the folded margins willlie parallel one to the other.

If desired a die 63 of other inclination than that illustrated may beused, the selection of the die being made according to the condition ofthe material passed through the machine. If the tendency should be thereverse to that described above the die 63 may be reversed so that thedownward slant of its legs will be toward the rear rather than forward.It will also be understood that the die may be set in a central positionfor a normal condition of the material and may be adjusted in onedirection or the other according to the direction in which the conditionof the material varies from normal.

The operation of the mechanism has already been described. However, Iwould here explain that the means for moving a previous label out of thepresses consists in providing the brackets and 56 with forwardextensions 68 and 69 re spectively. These extensions are bent opposite'yat their extremities and when the jaws are closed they cooperate to forma vertical surface which serves as a pusher to push out the previouslabel. It will be understood that the brackets 56 and 46 are made oflight resilient material so that when the jaws are in clamped position,the extensions 68 and 69 will be tightly engaged so that there will beno chance for a label to slip between them.

fhe purpose of the grooves 48a is to permit easy withdrawal of the plate45 from a label after the latter has been introduced into the presses.The grooves prevent the plate from catching on the crimped forward edgeof the label and dragging the label out of the press.

In order to save time in the operation of the machine the feed of tapeunder the knife 30 may take place while the carriage 12 is returning.The tail pieces 50 and are provided to guide the projecting portion ofthe label strip into position between the jaws while the latter arereturning to clamping posit? on.

The modification shown in Fig. 7 will be readily understood. In place ofthe U-shaped dies 63, I provide a central die which is adjustableforwardly and rearwardly in a slot formed in a clamping plate 71 and ina bracket '72 carred by the upper arm 15. The lower arm 14 is providedwith a clamping plate 73 which is secured to said arm by an anglebracket 74. A central slot 75 is formed in the plate 73 and bracket '74to receive the die 70 so that when the jaws are clamped together, asshown in Fig. 7, the label will be depressed by the die 70 into the slot75. The de 70 is of semi-conical form with its apex extendingrearwardly. The die therefore forms a crimp in the label such asindicated at 76 in Fig. 8.

The plate 73 is formed with ribs 77 at each side of the slot 75 butthere are no corresponding ribs on the plate 71 so that the label isfree to be crimped at its forward edge. However the rear edge of thelabel is securely gripped between marginal toothed ribs 78 and 79 formedon the plates 71 and 73 respectively. These ribs correspond in positionand form to the ribs 59 and 49 of the embodiment described above.

While I have described two embodiments of my invention, it will beunderstood that these are to be taken as illustrative and not limitativeand that I reserve the right to make such changes in form, constructionand arrangement of parts and method of procedure as will fall within thespirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of folding an end of a label with a folder, which consistsin distorting the body of the label to shorten a side edge of the same,causing relative edgewise movement of the label with respect to thefolder so as to draw said end therethrough, and thereafter flatteningthe body of the label.

2. The method of folding an end of a label with a folder, which consistsin distorting the body of the label to shorten a side edge of the same,causing relative edgewise movement of the label with respect to thefolder so as to draw said end therethrough with the shortened edge inthe lead, and thereafter flattening the body of the label.

3. The method of forming parallel folds at opposite ends of a label witha pair of folders, which consists in crimping the body of the label nearone side edge to shorten said side edge, causing relative movement ofthe label edgewise between the folders to draw the ends of the labelthrough said folders respectively, and thereafter flattening the body ofthe label.

4. The method of forming parallel folds at opposite ends of a label witha pair of folders, which consists in crimping the body of the label nearone side edge to shorten said side edge, moving the label edgewisebetween the folders to draw the ends of the label through said foldersrespectively with the shortened side in the lead, and thereafterflattening the label.

5. In a label folding machine, a folder, means for moving a labeledgewise relative thereto to draw an end of the label through thefolder, and 131 7 In a label folding machine. a folder, a clamp forgrippng a label with an end of the label projecting therefrom, means formoving the clamp to carry the label edgewi e past said folder and drawsaid end through the folder, and means for controlling the relativelength of the leading and trailing edges of the label.

8. In a label folding machine, a folder, a clamp for gripping a labelwith an end of the label projecting therefrom, means for moving theclamp to carry the label edgewjse past the folder and draw said endthrough the folder, and means on the clamp for crimping the body of thelabel to vary the length of the leading edge with respect to that of thetrailing edge thereof.

9. In a label folding machine, a folder, a clamp for gripping a labelwith an end of the label projecting therefrom, means for moving theclamp to carry the label edgewise past the folder and draw said endthrough the folder, and crimping means on the clamp for shortening theleading edge of the label.

10. In a label folding machine, a folder, a clamp for gripping a labelwith an end of the label projecting therefrom, means for moving theclamp to carry the label edgewise past the folder and draw said endthrough the folder, means on the clamp for distorting the body of thelabel to vary the relative length of the leading and trailing edges ofthe label, and means for adjusting the distorting means on the clamp tovary the extent of the distortion of the label body.

11. In a label folding machine, a clamp for gripping a label withopposite ends projecting therefrom, a pair of folders, means for movingthe clamp between the folders edgewise of the label to draw said endsthrough the folders, and means on the clamp for distorting the label sothat said ends will outwardly from the clamp with respect to the axis ofmovement of the label.

12. In a label folding machine, a clamp for gripping a label withopposite ends of the label projecting therefrom, a pair of folders,means for moving the clamp between the folders edgewise of the label todraw said ends through the folders, and means on the clamp fordistorting the label so that the leading edge of the label will beshortened.

13. In a label folding machine, a clamp for gripping a label withopposite ends of the label projecting therefrom, a pair of folders,means for moving the clamp between the folders edgewise of the label todraw said ends through the folders, and means on the clamp fordistorting the label so that the leading edge of the label will beshorter than the trailing edge.

14. In a label folding machine, a clamp for gripping a label withopposite ends of the label projecting therefrom, a pair of sses, a pairof folders, means for moving the c .p edgewise of the label between thefolders and the presses to draw said ends t rough the folders and on tothe presses, means on the clamp for crimping the leading edge of thelabel, and m ans for releasing the label from the clamp after it hasbeen delivered to the presses.

15. In label folding machine, a pair of folders, a clamp adapted toconvey a label past the folders to fold opposite ends of the label, saidclamp comprising a pair of jaws adapted to grip the label with oppositeends projecting therefrom, one of the jaws being formed with a recess, adie carried by the other jaw and adapted to project into the recess tocrimp the label.

16. In a label folding machine, a pair of folders, a clamp adapted toconvey a label past the folders to cause opposite ends of the label tobe folded, said clamp comprising a pair of jaws adapted to grip thelabel with opposite ends projecting therefrom, one of the jaws beingformed with a recess, a die carried by the other jaw and adapted toproject into the recess to crimp the label, and means for adjusting thedie transversely with respect to the length of the label.

17. In a label folding machine, a pair of folders, a clamp movablebetween the folders and adapted to draw the ends of a label through saidfolders to fold the same, said clamp comprising a pair of jaws forgripping the label with said ends projecting therefrom, one of the jawsbeing formed with a pair of slots transversely disposed with respect tothe label, and a U-shaped die carried by the other jaw and adapted toproject into the slots to crimp the label, the legs of the die havingtapered ends.

18. In a label folding machine, a pair of folders, a clamp movablebetween the folders and adapted to draw the ends of a label through saidfolders to fold the same, said clamp comprising a pair of jaws forgripping the label with said ends projecting therefrom, one of the jawsbeing formed with a pair of slots extending toward the leading edge ofthe clamp, a two legged die carried by the other jaw and adapted toproject into the slots to crimp the label, the legs of the die havingtapered ends so that they will project more deeply at one end of theslots than the other, and means for adjusting the die lengthwise of theslots.

19. In a label folding machine, a pair of folders, a clamp movablebetween the folders and adapted to draw the ends of a label through saidfolders to fold the same, said clamp comprising a pair of jaws forgripping the label with said ends projecting therefrom, one of the jawsbeing formed with a pair of slots, a pair of projections carried by theother jaw and adapted to enter the slots to crimp the forward side ofthe label, said jaws being formed with marginal toothed ribs adapted togrip the rearward side of the label.

20. In a label folding machine, a pair of folders, a clamp movablebetween the folders and adapted to draw the ends of a label through saidfolders to fold the same, said clamp comprising a pair of jaws, one ofthe jaws being formed with a pair of slots, a U-shaped die carried bythe other jaw and adapted to project into the slots to crimp the forwardside of the label, said jaws being provided with means for gripping saidforward side centrally and also with means for gripping the rearwardside of the label adjacent said ends.

21. In a label folding machine, a pair of folders, a clamp movablebetween the folders and adapted to draw the ends of a label through saidfolders to fold the same, said clamp comprising a pair of jaws forgripping the label with said ends projecting therefrom, the lower jawbeing formed with a pair of slots extending in the direction of motionof the clamp, a pair of projections in the upper jaw adapted to enterthe slots more deeply near their forward end than their rearward end,the lower jaw being also formed with a pair of grooves in its upper faceleading from the slots to the leading edge of the jaw.

GUSTAVE A. PIEPENBRING.

